First Chinese Express

TL;DR It's really good. Go here…read more -------------- I came here after a friend recommended it when I told them I was coming down to San Diego for a day trip during my spring break from school in Orange County. I was born and raised in LA, so I've had a lot of Chinese food growing up, and I wasn't expecting to be this surprised--but I really was. I ordered the black bean eggplant and the salt and pepper chicken wings. The wings are what they're known for, but I have to start with the eggplant because it completely caught me off guard. It wasn't mushy at all--crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside, and coated in sauce without losing its texture. Every bite had depth and balance, not just saltiness. I actually meant to start with the wings, but the eggplant was so good I ended up eating half of it before even getting to them. By that point I was already getting full, but I still made sure to finish the wings--and I'm honestly excited to take the rest of the eggplant home as leftovers. By the time I got to the wings, I understood why they're popular--crispy, flavorful, and super satisfying--but what stood out to me was how both dishes complemented each other. One rich and layered, the other crisp and bright. I never got tired of eating, which honestly says a lot. I even told the staff how much I enjoyed the food and they thought I was joking, but I meant every word in saying I thought it was comparable, if not better then the food I've had in Chinatown in LA. Really glad I came here and the next time I have a chance to come back down to SD I definitely will come back here and that's not negotiable for me

Stay away from this place, seriously do NOT believe the positive reviews. We ordered on a…read morerecommendation from other people and some goofball online. Well, let me tell you. This place is NOT worth the high rating it has. We ordered the Fried Green Beans, they were cooked in oil that was obviously not to temperature. Too greasy for consumption. To make it worse? They were drowned in salt! The Crispy Beef was nothing but thick dough with no beef inside. To add insult to injury it was BURNED so badly that all you could smell was burnt dough and taste burned dough. Hardly any sauce on it as well. The Shrimp Fried Rice should have just been plain white rice for how bland it was. The Vegetable Chow Mein literally was just a container of salt. Slim noodles and salt, disgusting! We spent so much money and all of this is going right into the garbage. Stay away from this hole! It should be shut down for trying to poison people. Feels like I am going to go blind from the amount of salt I ingested from only a few bites. Gross!!

Chicken Chow Fun

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Salt and pepper chicken wings

Chef China

4.1(403 reviews)

3.4 mi

I love the chicken wings and the egg rolls we use the remaining rice with the garlic from the wing…read moreand mix it together soooo good

Their salt and pepper chicken wings are absolutely killer. The rest of their menu is good, but I'm…read moregoing here for those wings and those wings only. That's the good part. The bad part is how long it takes to make the food. I've been told, on multiple occasions, it would be 25-30 minutes and it's been upwards of 40. I don't mind if you tell me it's going to be 40 minutes, but just say that upfront. That being said, these wings are killer and any time I've got a craving this is where I'm going.

Front of store

Buddha's Delight - all veggies and delicious!

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12 Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings - delicious!

Beijing Express

4.0(155 reviews)

2.0 mi

Really amazing Chinese food ! Not greasy at all and very very fresh ! This was our first time ,…read morerecommended by our cousins who are San Diego natives and it did not dissapoiny. Large portions , we ordered the wings , and 4 plates of orange chicken , beef broccoli with chow mein and even brought a plate home since there was so much left over

Great value hole in a wall takeout Chinese food takeout spot. Owners are friendly and pack your…read morecombo box to the point it won't close properly. A two item combo was under $10, a great deal for what you get. I got orange chicken/salt and pepper chicken with half rice/half noodles. I liked the orange chicken and noodles. Orange chicken was crispy and juicy while the noodles was spongy and flavorful. The fried rice was a bit plain and the wings a little on the dry side. Overall great takeout for the price.

Thank you Mary! You're so cute.

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The best! It's cash only

Panda Restaurant

3.5(88 reviews)

0.8 mi

Awesome local spot in Lemon Grove! We love coming here for Chinese eats that hits. The staff/owner…read moreare very welcoming and kind. The food is very good and the portions are generous whether you are dining in or taking out. The dining room is quiet and service is quick and very good. Definitely a recommended spot. Show them some love!

Food is made to order, fresh and delicious! Today wasn't…read morebusy at all, great for me! I ordered my favorite Shrimp Fried Rice and Shrimp Egg Foo Young with Cheese Wontons! 2025/8

Orange egg roll

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Oodles By The Noodbar

4.5(272 reviews)

1.2 mi

I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

Highly recommend Oodles. I often get the fresh Salad rolls (the peanut sauce is exceptional.)…read more The service is friendly. The location is quaint but charming. My personal favorite is Dan Dan noodles with extra Dan Dan sauce. Noodles are exquisite and the meat is perfection. My only hang up is the price for the product.

Counter decor

Trio Pork Over Rice

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Trio Pork Over Rice

Tasty Inn Express

4.4(117 reviews)

3.2 mi

Wonderful food, great prices, and friendly customer service! The Hot & Sour Soup is my favorite.read more

This was the go to Chinese food place since 2008. They would go out of there way to make things for…read moreme even if it was no longer on the menu. I will miss the owner she was amazing she always gave my kid ramune. To the owner please reach out to us so we can see you again at chopsticks inn

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Hong Kong Noodles with BBQ Pork

Elite Buffet

3.2(302 reviews)

0.2 mi

They have a very good variety of food at this Asian Buffet! Salad fruit, side dishes, and several…read moreother dishes. I like to sample a bit of several items. $22.00 for adults and I am not sure of the kids price. Bring an appetite

All went well at Elite Buffet, because the value is there. Observing that Elite Buffet has hand…read morecleaner at each island...good look. Elite Buffet has an assortment of fountain drinks, Agua de Jamaica or hermica drink, horchata, tea, and coffee. They had three types of soup seafood, eggdrop, and hot & sour. Their entrees ranged from Thai chicken, Lobster Rolls, Chow Mein, Broccoli beef, Crabs, Baked Scallops,Fried rice,Fried Shrimp, Stuffed mushrooms, Fried fish, vegetables, and a salad bar. Don't forget the pudding, fruits, jello, and soft serve ice-cream. The service at Elite Buffet was great, they have people cleaning up tables, and picking up empty plates at random. Great job Elite Buffet

Buffet

California rolls without avocado.

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Hot Food

Lemon Grove Thai Food

4.2(336 reviews)

1.0 mi

Best Thai food in Lemon Grove as far as I know, I haven't eaten any other Thai places in the area,…read morestill their yellow curry is fire. Service is really good but please get some new spoons. The plastic spoons are flimsy AF. ALSO wanted to add to anybody who says they smelled alcohol at the front counter is an idiot It's clearly the hand sanitizer next to the register. Use your brain people and don't be so excited about calling somebody out instead of using common sense.

I ordered using their online system, which is already a huge plus for me! Also, because I spent…read moremore than $40, they included a free order of veggie egg rolls. I purchased the fresh spring rolls, papaya salad, panang curry, and drunken fried rice. The in-person service was also extremely friendly! Every item had really great flavor and was an appropriate portion for the prices. The papaya salad was the best surprise and had full sized shrimp (as opposed to the little dried ones I usually expect). My one complaint would be that I ordered the curry and rice at higher spice levels (5 and 7, respectively) and got exactly zero spice. This being the closest Thai food for me in Lemon Grove, I'll be back often and I'm super glad that it is as tasty as it is!

Spacious

Pad Thai

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12. Beef Yum Salad

Great Wall Express

3.3(164 reviews)

1.8 mi•Rolando

Oh man, I can't believe I haven't wrote a review about this place. I've been coming here for…read moreyearssssss! Always super cheap, good food, bang for your buck! They hook it up too & they're huge portions. Limited parking but there is street parking available. They accept cash or cards. Booths, tables and chairs for dining and a patio area. Customer service is always great here. Super friendly staff. They have Party packages available for a great price!

Great Wall Express is one of those spots I randomly crave every so often Their jalapeño chicken is…read moreFIREEE and honestly one of my favorite things to order from there. I usually get trays for parties and everyone always tear it up. Service isn't always the friendliest but for the price and portions it's kinda expected tbh. Parking isn't the best either but definitely recommend asking for your food fresh though makes a big difference.